What is the significance of Mr. N's NH3 level being elevated ...

[Awilson837]

What is the significance of Mr. N's NH3 level being elevated prior to his bleeding? What is the significance of it being elevated to an even greater degree after his bleeding?

Question 2

What medications may be having an effect on Mr. Y's distended, bloated feeling?

[nital]

Answer to Question 1

NH3 is elevated prior to bleeding because the liver has lost at least part of its ability to make urea. It is elevated even higher after the bleeding because the blood in the gut is an excellent substrate from which intestinal bacteria produce NH3 that can be absorbed across the intestinal wall, even in the colon.

Answer to Question 2

Morphine sulfate.

[Awilson837]

TYSM

[alvinum]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it